16.40
Yielding To SoftDavid Trundley Artist At Punchestown Novice Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £7070.25
- 2m 6f 211y
- 12 runners
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Runners: 12 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 4-321P
Last run: 63 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 (2) |
15th Aug 2026 Yielding 1m 4f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Bounced back to form when gaining a first Flat win on his third run for this yard over C&D last month in first-time blinkers, successful by 10l; hefty 12lb hike for that but interesting if headgear continues to work; just second over hurdles here on Thursday. |
5/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
13th Aug 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Won a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in 2024 for John McConnell; came back to form in first-time blinkers to easily win on the Flat here over 1m4f last time; has to be respected back hurdling assuming the blinkers have the desired effect again. |
13/8 |
|
1st 3 (8) |
7th Jul 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y |
10st 4lb |
Flat maiden; won a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in 2024 when with John McConnell; down the field in two runs for this stable; seemed to be well fancied for a similar race to this at Roscommon on the first occasion; blinkered now after a poor hurdle run. |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: F-5013
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 2 |
8th Jun 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 100y |
11st 8lb |
Won a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle (2m4f, yielding to soft) in early 2025 but only one effort of note in the past 12 months, when third in first-time cheekpieces at Cork in March; tailed off in both his beginners' chases. |
25/1 |
|
10th 6 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 54y |
11st 12lb |
1-17 over timber and rated 109; always behind when beaten 77l on sole chase start at Leopardstown in March (21.5f, yielding); mid-field in Punchestown handicap hurdle latest; others make more appeal. |
28/1 |
|
9th 16 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 81y |
10st 8lb |
1-16 over hurdles; ran well when a close third at Cork off 1lb higher on penultimate (2m4f, yielding); needs to bounce back from disappointing Fairyhouse run latest; others look better treated. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 333
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 120y |
11st 1lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner gained first chase win under rules' on latest at Limerick (24.5f, sft-hvy); raised 6lb for that and this is a deeper race; will need a big career-best to follow up. |
13/2 |
|
1st 3 |
22nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 150y |
11st 8lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner whose success under rules came in 2m7f Punchestown novice handicap hurdle last season (soft); 0-5 chasing, well held last twice in Naas handicaps, albeit near-impossible task last time from 10lb out of handicap in Leinster National; drops in class so don't rule out. |
10/1 |
|
6th 16 |
8th Mar 2026 Heavy 3m 0f 174y |
10st 0lb |
Four-time point-to-point winner has one success under rules' which came in a comfortable fashion in a Punchestown novice handicap hurdle in February last year off 112 (2m7f, soft); well beaten in recent chase runs, including on handicap debut last time over 2m4f here (heavy); looks up against it from 10lb outside handicap. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -21311 C
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 10 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
10st 3lb |
Decent performer at a modest enough level, three hurdle wins and twice successful over fences off lower marks this term in Limerick handicaps, most recently last month when patiently-ridden to lead two out for ready 11l win (2m4f, soft); up 9lb but remains 10lb lower than hurdles so remains very much of interest. |
9/2 |
|
1st 8 |
31st Mar 2026 Soft 2m 3f 128y |
10st 10lb |
Three wins last year included a win over fences here over 2m6f; has to rebound from two poor runs since a second at Tramore on New Year's Day. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 511134 BF
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 3 |
22nd Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 110y |
11st 8lb |
Four-time hurdles winner; not solid on his form this term, latterly for new yard; unseated rider at Taunton over fences on latest; best form is on better ground than this. |
25/1 |
|
2 |
23rd Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 51y |
11st 9lb |
Three wins at Downpatrick and one at Carlisle which was the latest in February; showed nothing in two runs since that win but encouraging signs when fourth at Gowran 20 days ago and he's back on his last winning mark. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 115
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 9lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
8th Aug 2026 Good 3m 1f 0y |
11st 2lb |
Two-time hurdles winner got off the mark over fences here on latest (2m7f, good), beating Teenage Kiss by a neck off 105; 7lb rise mostly negated by rider's claim; this is a deeper race so further improvement will be required, but that's not impossible; stamina assured. |
9/2 |
|
1st 7 |
30th Jun 2026 Good 2m 7f 0y |
11st 7lb |
Bumper winner in UK and both hurdle wins for this yard have come at this track up to 3m; regressive over hurdles last autumn and well beaten in two beginners' chases; has to return to form. |
16/1 |
|
5th 9 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 160y |
11st 5lb |
One of two for trainer; two-time winner over hurdles at Wexford but no sign of her best form last season; tailed off on chasing debut at Kilbeggan (2m7f, good) last month when jumping lacked fluency. |
18/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 244065
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Filly
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
3rd Aug 2026 Good 2m 2f 0y |
11st 4lb |
0-13 over hurdles; ran on well for fourth on the Flat at Leopardstown (1m7f, good) on latest; well held on last start in this sphere at Galway just over a year ago but has placed off higher marks before so not discounted back over hurdles. |
14/1 |
|
4th 9 (1) |
23rd Jul 2026 Good 1m 7f 0y |
9st 1lb |
Her only Flat win in 33 starts came in this race in 2023 on soft ground; best run this year was on soft at Down Royal; has to improve on latest two runs; ground concerns. |
12/1 |
|
8th 13 (9) |
15th Jul 2026 Good 1m 6f 80y |
9st 2lb |
Three years since her sole Flat win (1m7f, soft) but only narrowly denied over 1m5f at Down Royal last month on similar ground; not as effective on fast ground six days later at the Curragh so ground concerns again here. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4U3310 BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
31st Aug 2026 Good 2m 1f 165y |
11st 5lb |
Had struggled for form before winning his second start over fences quite convincingly over 2m3f at Wexford three weeks ago; likes good ground or a slight ease and only 5lb higher; on the shortlist. |
100/30 |
|
1st 3 |
8th Aug 2026 Good 2m 3f 20y |
11st 10lb |
1-9 over fences; hasn't really fired in 2026 and failed to exploit lower hurdles mark at Galway on latest when 28-1; needs to rediscover best. |
13/2 |
|
10th 16 |
2nd Aug 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 60y |
10st 8lb |
Both wins have been at around 2m5f, including Kilbeggan beginners' chase last year; just okay run on latest in Wexford handicap hurdle over this trip in May; stamina remains a possible issue. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 96002
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 6 |
6th Mar 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 176y |
11st 12lb |
raced in second |
6/1 |
|
6 |
20th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 211y |
11st 3lb |
Left his previous maiden hurdle form behind when runner-up at Fairyhouse last month (beaten roughly 1l) and the third went close at Clonmel since; handicapper has revised his mark and may need further progress to win on handicap debut but longer trip may suit. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 255706
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
25th Aug 2025 Good 2m 1f 165y |
10st 13lb |
Fourth of 20 over hurdles on his penultimate start before a lesser show here over 2m6f; didn't run well in his last handicap chase either so not hard to have some reservations. |
12/1 |
|
6 |
15th Jul 2025 Good 2m 5f 185y |
11st 3lb |
Point-to-point winner yet to score under Rules; solid fourth at Punchestown (3m, gd-yld) on latest; nudged up 1lb for that and drops in trip; claims if he can back that up but that's not guaranteed. |
11/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 838-07
Last run: 13 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 91
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 9 |
24th Jul 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 0y |
10st 13lb |
0-14 under Rules and out of form when last seen in April at Naas; dropped another 2lb for that but lacks a run and may need softer ground. |
28/1 |
|
12th 16 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 0lb |
0-13 over hurdles, placed twice; encouragement from Punchestown run in February when far from disgraced under this rider but has plenty on to reverse the form with Mellem judged on latest effort at Leopardstown. |
33/1 |
|
12th 16 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 0lb |
0-13 over hurdles, placed twice; encouragement from Punchestown run in February when far from disgraced under this rider but has plenty on to reverse the form with Mellem judged on latest effort at Leopardstown. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 0070-5
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 3lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
13th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 0y |
10st 3lb |
led, headed after 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on run-in |
22/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
13th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 0y |
10st 3lb |
led, headed after 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on run-in |
22/1 |
Verdict
It’s hard to know where the ceiling of DUFFYS HODEY’s ability lies and an 8lb rise for his recent course success looks on the lenient side. Plenty of others arrive in good form including Must Go Now who had an in-form Portnacoo in behind at Fairyhouse while the likes of Rue Taylor and Prophet’s Corner both have workable opening handicap marks. [Phill Anderson]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Duffys HodeyThe Irish Sun:
Prophet's CornerRP RATINGS (IRE):
I Ballyadam MoonTOPSPEED:
PortnacooPOSTDATA:
Duffys Hodey